Nikon sees a digital future

The end of the film camera?

By Nancy Gohring | 12 January 06

Nikon yesterday said it will stop making all but two of its film cameras and will discontinue some lenses, instead focusing on its digital camera products.

The company will no longer make most of its film cameras, its large-format Nikkor lenses, enlarging lenses, manual focus Nikkor interchangeable lenses and related accessories. It will continue to manufacture the F6 and FM10 film cameras. Nikon will sell all of the products until supplies run out.

Because film products account for a shrinking share of Nikon's sales, the company will instead focus on the digital camera business, which continues to grow, it said in a statement.

Nikon will offer support for the discontinued products for 10 years after they are sold.

Sales of digital cameras have outstripped sales of film cameras, leading other camera makers and sellers to adjust their strategies as well. In early 2004, Kodak said it would stop selling film cameras in North America and Europe. In August of last year, Dixons stopped selling film cameras.